Muzerall, Shannon Kennedy (3) and Brodt (5) lead the Gophers. Eric Miller

1. HARVARD
The defending national champions will depend on sophomore Jennifer Botterill and junior Tammy Shewchuk to put up the numbers and sophomore Angela Ruggiero to continue to dominate at the blue line.

2. NEW HAMPSHIRE
This perennial powerhouse has a roster stocked with nine seniors, including forwards Carisa Zaban and Samantha Holmes. Backstopping them is senior Alicia Roberts, UNH's alltime winningest goalie.

3. MINNESOTA
A lock for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association title, the Golden Gophers are counting on senior left wing Shannon Kennedy and four juniors—two-time All-America defenseman Courtney Kennedy, forward Winny Brodt, right wing Nadine Muzerall and goalie Erica Killewald—to try to bring a national title home.

4. BROWN
Defense is the Brown Bears' strength, with three-time ECAC All-Star Ali Brewer in goal and '98-99 point leader (and U.S. Olympian) Tara Mounsey at the blue line.

5. NORTHEASTERN
Senior Hilary Witt, Northeastern's leading scorer for the past two years, will be the catalyst for the Huskies.

6. PROVIDENCE
Olympic gold medalist junior Sara DeCosta compiled an impressive .923 save percentage while facing an average of 30 shots per game last season.

7. DARTMOUTH
A surprise qualifier at the ECAC finals last year, the Big Green can get even further this season if junior forwards Kristina Guarino and Lauren Trottier and junior defensemen Liz Macri and Kristin Romberg play well.

8. MINNESOTA-DULUTH
Former Canadian coach Shannon Miller came south to put together the Bulldogs' team, which will make its debut with a squad of top international players plus sophomore forward Jenny Schmidgall, a transfer from the rival Golden Gophers.

9. OHIO STATE
In their inaugural season the Buckeyes have a talented group, including freshman goalie April Stojak and junior forward Corinne Rosen.

10. WISCONSIN
This new program will be led by former Cornell coach Julie Sasner, whose first recruit, Jackie MacMillan, spent last season training with the Badgers' men's team.

Hot Dates

March 16-18
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championships, Minneapolis

March 24-25
American Women's College Hockey Alliance (Divisions I and III) National Championships, Northeastern University, Boston

Cybersources

www.uscollegehockey.com
A great site for scores and stats

www.whockey.com
The site for women's hockey, including college links

Lower Divisions

(Note: Because women's hockey is an emerging NCAA sport, there are no NCAA division championships.) Middlebury College, the class of the lower divisions, has taken home the ECAC D-III championship for the last four years, and there's no reason to believe that its winning streak will end this season. Look for a matchup with probable MIAC champion Augsburg College for the national title next March.